Indianapolis Times, Volume 37, Number 98, Indianapolis, Marion County, 24 August 1925 — Page 14

2

BEECH GROVE DETERMINED TO GROW

Civic Association Formed to Boost , ?own 4 Already Fourth trt State in Per Capita Wealth —Has Big Four Railroad Shops. Beech Grove, the fourth richest community per capita, in the and home of the main tfepaii? fehops of the Big Four UaiirOad system, is about to exjiiferr.iriee growing pains, if plans the heW Beech Grove Civic Association, means anything, fclvifi leaders, hot satisfied that their town ranks fourth in averge >jrealtl\ (of each inhabitant, two months age organized to Sell their fclty to the 'world, and especially to tndiannpoUs, Location of new industries, anew town haU, a town park on Lick Creek and the luring of many people to build homes in the town, are listed among the things the civic association intends to do. Officers Given A v L raiding, travelling store keeper tbr the Big Four, is president of the association, other officers are W, H, Geshwiler, vice presidentj It, 0, Wright, treasurer; Mi's-. W, B, N'ewcomer, secretary, and Mw, R £L Day, chairman of the publicity committee, Geshwller ia an inspector In therailroad shops, ahd Wright la cashier of the town hank, Ths assoefedion has about 200 members, including: both men and Women. D haa amm doers hip committee of ten out now to swnli the ranks, Tha central idea of the patiioticcHteens- who form the membership is tha; Beech Grove is a good place, btf. has to be developed. Wmsng Idea '‘i*eople la Indianapolis have entirely the wrong idea of Beech Grove," said one of the citizens, "‘'ll'hey think VvC are ten miles out in the country. We are right up against the city limits, and have the finest undeveloped residential suburb them is around Indianapolis.” "We am up above the smog and smoke. About every street in town la paved. The lets all have Improvements, and can be bought at far mom reasonable prices than away out north of Broad Ripple or in other suburbs. We are closest taos any undeveloped section, We have paved roads leading to Indian, apofis. We have fine schools and Churches, a good sewer system, get ©ur light and water from Indian* apolis and we never have the heat they do there, because of the altitude,” Factory Went Elsewhere, Vice President Geehwiler said the need for a booster organization was felt recently when a factory which Vould employ 2,500 men wanted to Conn, to Beech Grove, and there was no central organization who would even promise to aid in getting a fact cry site, so it went elsewhere. "We want to get some other industries here beside the shops, and

J* - Let’s Go — - x BEECH GROVE We Have the Goods! Ideal Factory Sites Excellent Transportation fj j Good Schools Good Highways Four Churches Fai’ed Streets Modem Retail Stores 25 Minutes From the Heart of Indianapolis Let’s Boost Beech Grove! ;<r : For Further Information \Vrite ;r Reedr Grove Civic League, Beech Grove, fnd

Civic Association Officers

: '•* :<s||£jgik |||| '■ jajPllf (BE

•v + ' ' '• *, ' i % * v *> < ' , a.’;; * . ?<• •• V:.?'. ' k- y y < 4 ■ ? ' *. - '< -i ... •, * o , i" ’ ,-X i" ' . . ' ' i. : <

Boeeh Grove Civic Association officers. Above—President A. J. ESbling (left) and Vice President. William Geshwiler. Iletow—Treasurer R. C. Wright (left) and Secretary Mrs, W. S. Newcomer.

we intend to dp so,” he said. “We also Intend to spread the truth around as to our exceptional residence facilities. Just look at the fine lots, the tree-lined streets and our other advantages.” “We want to unite everyone and get behind Beech Grove, forgetting all our factional disputes for the good of our home town, which will be for the own individual good of each person in town.” NEXT BOOM EXPECTED Beech Grove Confident It Will Rival Florida. Beech Grove insists the next building boom which will hit the United States will not be in Florida, but right here in Beech Grove. ~ Two lots at Sherman Dr. and Troy Ave., bought tl re*, years ago for SI,OOO, are now worth $3,500. Anyway, that's an offer the owner refused for them. Most of the lots for sale in Beech

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

f lr * \ . m ■" f % ■ \ * W * * - ' -.\ ' • •• - .

Y„- ■ / v - r > : : ; i

Grove are moderate priced, and already have paving and sewer systems in. IN FOUR TOWNSHIPS Town Goto Help in Pavements — Mostly n Perry. Peech Grove *- ocated in four to nships: Perry, Center, Warren and Franklin. The greatest part is in Perry. At present Perry Township is pacing a road right through the corporate limits. The new paving begins at Churchman Rd., goes east on Southern Ave. to Thirteenth St., then down Thirteenth to Churchman Ave., and southeast on Churchman. The total cost of the road will be SBO,OOO. It is a little more than two niiles long. The townships have a veritable net work of paved roads in and around Beech Grove. The town has paved many streets itself.

HERE’S HISTORY ! OF BEECH GROVE; ‘BORH’ IM 1907 Town Has Nearly Been Annexed to-City Three Times. Beech Glove', on incorporated town of 8,500 Inhabitants was founded in 1907, when the Big Four Railroad established the centrul repair shops of Its systef about five miles southeast of the Monument Circle. The town has grown up between the shops and the Indianapolis city limits Until the two corporation limits are only about five city blocks apart. , The portheast tip of the town Is less than four .miles southeast of the Claypool hotel corner, the heart of Indianapolis. Government The town is divided into three wards, and governed by an elective beard of three members. It has a, school board of three, who are appointed by the town board. Beech Grove has nearly been part of Indianapolis twice. Back In 1870, when Indianapolis was undergoing an oxiremo case of growing pains, the otto of the town was platted as a suburb of the city. Unfortunately, the latter failed to grow out that far by 1907, and incorporators of the present town had to take legal steps to have the old platting vacated. Then in 1910 a movement to be annexed to Indianapolis was started, and Just about completed. A remonstrance with Circuit Court was filed, and the court found it would not be “to iho best Interest” to effect the union at that time. CWc Body The town has a third-class postofflee, a bus-traction fight, twenty-five mile3 of paved streets and anew civic association of 200 members determined to wake the people of Indianapolis up to the advantages of living in Beech Grove. All but three streets in the town are paved. The altitude is about 175 feet higher than that of the Union Station. The town was incorporated by the Beech Grove Improvement Company. John Wocber, now dead, and his brother, William, were organizers of the company. Unfortunately for the immediate future of the little city, Wocher got into a real estate war with Indianapolis real estate men over the amount of commissions on

Buy PLUMBING <* **-Busdvmann Payment Plan-"

CLAPP BROTHERS Dry Goods, Shoes, Furnishings, Automobile Accessories, Groceries, Meats. BEECH GROVE, IND.

J. C. WILSON Funeral Director Fine' Equipment, Good Service and Economy Special Care of Ambulance Work ~ 1230 Prospect St. Drexel 0321-0322

H. E. DODD Agent Star, Durant, Flint Cars Gasoline Service Until Midnight General Auto Repairing • Used Cars j,,. Comer Fifth and Main St*. " Beech Grove, tod. _ r ‘~

lot sales, old settlers of the town explain, and any one who applied to an Indianapolis dealer to purchase a lot in the town was discouraged: BOARD HEIJS TOWN SCHOOLS Beech Grove Has 500 Students —New Gym. The public schools of Beech Grove are administered by a board of three members, apointed by the town board. The school board has ch.irge of educating 500 children. This year the high school graduated forty pupils. g The town has a grade school, hlgn 'school and gymnasium, all in or,'* group or. Tenth Ave., just off Main St, Bach of the three units are in a separate building. The gymnasiun? was built last year at a cost of about $60,000. The high school basket ball team In the past few yearn lias become a talking point to the townsmen, as in other Hoosier centers. John Lancaster and Guy Rutlege are the two members on the board at present. A. J. Eibling, named third man by Chairman Ticen of the town board, has refused to accept, and somebody to take the place is giving Ticen concern. He wants to appoint a good man, he said, a “fighter.”

H. W. Mills Restaurant Cor. 2d and Main Sts. Well Cooked Meals at Reasonable Prices Drop in and See Us When You Come to Beech Grove